Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO)

Officers and advisors of the Bilingual Education Student Organization

Contact Person: Sandra Saenz, ut_beso@yahoo.com
Advisor: Dr. Haydeé Rodríguez, SZB 440A, 232-5750
Advisor: Sue Gamel Holzaepfel, SZB 216, 471-3223
Office Location: SZB 282, 471-7010

Website: "Beso Ut Austin" on Facebook

BESO is a College of Education student organization designed for future teachers who are interested in issues surrounding bilingual education. At monthly meetings and during social events, members share ideas, practices and information about bilingual education, develop support groups, learn about the newest research and network with others who have similar career goals. BESO meetings often feature guest speakers such as teachers, principals, or administrators who are professionally affiliated with or knowledgeable about bilingual education. BESO members are committed to community service, but also enjoy many social events such as movie nights, holiday parties, ice cream socials, intermural softball, volleyball, and bowling nights. They also volunteer at UT events like Explore UT, Forty Acres Fest, and Longhorn Halloween, as well as for community events and agencies such as the Dia De Los Muertos parade, the Austin Book Festival, Thanksgiving food drives, Fiesta de Navidad, Caritas, the HOSTS Program, and dropout intervention programs. BESO adopts a local school every year and holds fundraising activities to help provide funds for the school as well as other BESO activities. BESO members often attend and volunteer at the annual Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Conference, where they find professional development, important information related to bilingual education, and just plain fun!